Electric switch and actuating mechanism therefor



B. S. MCCLELLAN. ELECTRIC SWITCH AND ACTUATING MECHANISM THI'RFOR.4

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, |915. IIENEwEn MAY 21.1921.

1,401,997, Patented Jan. 3, 1922,

Q A, um

z I I levers and spring mechanism for operatingv casing and BENJAMIN' S. MCCLELLAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MOGLELLAN BEFBIGERATING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO,

DELAWARE.

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ELECTRIC SWITCH AND ACTUATING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

Application led Hay 24, 1915, Serial No. 80,112. Renewed Hay 21, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN4 S. MoCLELLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Electric Switches and Actuating Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electric switches and actuating mechanism therefor which are adapted to be operated automatically to open position, or to position to open or break an electric circuit, or to be operated manually, so as to open or close an electricswitch, as desired.

The principal object ofthe invention is to provide a` simple, economical and elicient electric switch and Aactuating mechanism therefor. J

Other and further objects of the invention will a pear from'the following description and c aims and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof.'

The invention consists in the features, combinations and details of construction herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of an electric switch and actuating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention and improvements, showing in side elevation the switch or pivoted arms and cond,act members of a switch and the actuating the'pivoted arm members or' switch proper.;

Fig. 2, a view in transverse vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing the actuating spring and lever mechanism in elevation and th Huid pressure operated plunger or iston and diaphragm, and the uid chamber in central vertical section; and

f Fig. 3, a detail view in front elevation of the pivoted switch member and contact members of the switch shown in Fig. 1,` as they would appear taken on line 3 of said figure, with a condenser and compressor of a refrigerating system shown diagrammaticall Ig constructing an electrical switch and actuating mechanism therefor, in accord- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

Serial No. 471,489.

ance with my invention and improvements, I provide a supporting member or frame comprising a base l, and an. upright frame member 2, adapted to support the assembled members of the device in operative position; and an enclosing casing 3, having a removable cover or front wall 4, is mounted in position to enclose all or any desired parts of the mechanism.

Mounted upon the upright frame member or supporting member 2, and in position to be enclosed by the casing or box 3, is a switch which is, by preference, in the form of a knife-switch and comprises a backingplate or insulating block 5 formed of compressed iiber, hard rubber, porcelain or similar strong insulating material, and secured' to the support 2 by means of screws 6, or other suitable means. Metallic Contact members 7, comprising a spring linger 8, the projecting extremities of which are spaced apart and adapted-to receive the corresponding pivoted arm member 9 oi the switch between said spring inger portions, are

mounted upon the insulating block or backing-plate 5, towhich they are secured by means oi' screws 10, er any desired suitable securing means. The pivoted arm members 9 are pivotally secured to v the insulating block or backing-plate 5 by means of supporting brackets 11, having projecting arms -12 spaced apart and adapted to receive the lower or pivoted end portions of the correspending switch members orarms 9 therebetween. Fivots 13 are inserted through suitable pertorations in the projecting forked arms 12 and transversely through the end portion of the arm 9 located oetween )said projecting forked arms. (See Fig. 3.

A connecting bar 14 of compressed ber, hard rubber, or similar insulating material is connected at its opposite ends with the respective outer or swinging ends of the pivoted arms 9 by means of screws 15, or in any desired ordinary and well known manner, and Jforms a connection between the upper or swinging ends of said arms.v A

depending yoke or bracket 19, is secured to the horizontal operating or insulating bar 14 by means of screws 17 and nuts 18, adapted to engage the base portions of said bracket and securely hold the bracket in rigid relation to the insulating bar.

'.slot 23 and has its opposite ends secured to the side portions 21 of said bracket by means- The depending bracket 19 is provided with an opening 20 between the opposite side portions 211 t ereof; and an operating plunger 22, having a longitudinally elongated slot 23, is mounted in position to extend through the insulating plate 5 and the opening 20 1n the depending bracket 19, and has its slotted end portion operatively connected with the bracket 19 by means of a pin 24, whichextends transversely through the elongated of cotter pins or other similar or desired suitable means. (See 1 and 3.)

The opposite end -or rearward portion of the operating plunger 22 is .pivotally connected with the upper extremity of a forked lever or yoke 26, which comprises a pair of forked arms 27 pivotally connected at their lower ends with upright. supporting side frame members 28 b means of pivot pins 29.

(See Figs.- 1 and 2.

The arms 27 of the yoke or forked lever 26 are spaced apart and provided'with a transverse pin 30 fixed to the upper portion thereof extending through the perforated rear end of said plunger 22.v (See Figs. land 2.)

The forked lever or yoke 26 is so mounted that its lower forked end portions 27 are pivotally supportedby thepivots 29 below v the level of the plunger 22 and on opposite sides of the plunger, and, by preference, sub stantially midway between the opposite extremities of the path of movement of the pivotally connected end yof the plunger 22, or of the pin or point of pivotal connectlon between said members 22 and 26.

g An actuatingspring 31, which is by preference, in the form of a helica tension spring, is secured at its lower end by means of a securing pin 32 to a suitable support, such as the upright side frame members 28. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) rlhe opposite or upper end of the spring 31 is secured to, or operatively connected with, the upper portion of the double armed lever or yoke 26 by suitable securing means such as a transverse pin l The plunger 22,' the lforked 4lever or yoke 1 Y 26, andthe pivoted switch members comprismetallic arms 9, an'd the connecting bar v 14, are thus adapted toV be moved to and from circuit closing position bythe Aaction of the springBl and the actuating mechanism here s already described.

inafter described. Said parts are shown'in circuit closing position in full lines in Fig.

1, -and are shown in open or circuit breaking through a perforationin the transverse hubl portion 38 of said bell crank lever, and has lts opposite ends secured to said side frame members or supporting-frame portions 28. (See Fig.- 2.) The' upwardly extending lever arm 35 has a forked end portion 39,

'pivotally conected with a forked connecting link or yoke 40, by means of a pivot pin 41, which extends through suitable perforations in said link and lever arm. The opposite extremity of the link 40 comprises forked arms 42, which are spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 2, and which 4extend between and are loosely connected with the forked arms 27 of the doubled armed lever or yoke 26, (See Figs. 1 and 2.) These forked arm portions 42 are each provided with a lon'gltudinally elongated Slot 43, and each of the forked arms 27 of the lever or link member 26 is provided with a pin or bolt 44 fixed thereto and extending transversely through the adjacent elongated slot 43 of the corresponding forked arm 42 and in sliding engagement therewith. (See 'Figs 1 and 2.)

The lower or relatively short arm 36 of the bell crank lever 34 has forked portions 45 betweenv which extends an upright reciprocatinrr operating plunger 46, the upper end of' whlc'h is slidably mounted in a suitable bearing 47, and the lower extremity of which extends into a diaphagm chamber or piston chamber 48 in a casing comprising an upper casing member 49 and a lower casing member 50'. Said casing members 49 and 50- are rigidly secured together and are provided with a Huid or water containing chamber. or passage 51 having an inlet opening 52 adapted to communicate with a source of Huid or water supply, and an outlet passage `53 leading from said chamber. A flexible or movable waterproof diaphragm vor partition member 54 forms apartition between the uid containing chamber 51 and the upperv plunger l or piston containing chamber or space 48, already described. The lower extremity of the plunger 46 is fixed to 'a circular plunger-head or piston member 55, which is .slidably mounted in, and in sliding engagement with, the inner or cylindrical peripheral 'walls of the chamber 48, and above or on the opposite side of the dias phragm 54 from the water or Huid containing Chamb?? 51- An upper collar or sleeve sprmg is in crank lever 34 to move movement of the full lines in F ig.

the relatively large cylindrical portion of said plunger-head or plston and is in slidling `engagement with and encircled by the mner perlpheral walls of a cylindrical upper chamber 1portion 57',- in which is mounted a compressib end of this spring engages the sleeve portion 56 of the plunger-head or piston 55, and the upper extremity of said engagement-with the inner face of a threaded cap or nut 59, which is in threaded engagement with and closes the opening in the upper casing member 49, a1- ready described. The. tension of the spring 58 is regulated or increased and decreased as desired by turning the cap 5 9 in the required direction. The spring thus adjusted is adapted to operate the plunger downward when the pressure in chamber 51 is reduced to or below a predetermined point. The plunger or stem 46 is provided with lateral bosses or annular peripheral collars 61 and 62 fixed thereto and spaced apart so yas to admit the circular forked armportions 45 of the lever arm 36 between b said collar portions and in position to extend on opposite sides ofthe plunger 46. The upward movement of the plunger will thus cause the forked arm 364of the bell upward therewith from the position in which said leverarm is shown in dotted lines which the Same is shown in full lines in Fig. 1. It follows as a matter of course that the movement of the plunger 46 with its plunger-head or piston 55, from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1., to the position shown in broken lines in said iigure, will cause a corresponding downward forked bell crank lever arm 36 from the position in which it is shown in w1ll cause a corresponding movement of the upwardly extending bell crank lever arm 35 and forked link 40 from-.the position in whichsaid members are shown in full lines 1n Fig. 1 to the position in which the Same are shown in broken lines in said ligure, or

in other posi of the corresponding forked lever arms 27,`

'are adapted to limit the forward movement of the forked lever 26, and plunger 22, and similar stops or shoulders 64 which are mclined upwardly and located at the ope helical spring 58. The lower F collar or to the position inv 1 to the positionin which it f is .shown in broken lines in said figure. This 81 posite extremity of the path of movement of the arms 27 of the froked lever 26, are adapted to limit the movement of said lever in the direction of its movement in closing the circuit, or in the operation of moving the metallic 'switch members 9 to circuit clpsing positlon, as shown in .full lines in 1 1. ghe pivoted or movable metallic switch members 9 and the contacts 7 are connected with or em raced within an electric circuit in which is included an driven, and supply. The in contact with the pivoted extremities of the switch 'members 9, aren connected ,with electric conductors or wires 65 and 66 in any desirable ordinary or suitable manner, as by means of a metallic binding post 67, binding screws 68, fuse 71, metallic connecting part 72, and metallic fuse supports 69 and 70 for each of said wires.

- Electric conductors or wires 73 `and 74 are connected with the opposite terminals or parts of an electric motor 77, and with the respective contacts or metallic switch memers A binding post or metallic base 75, and a binding screw 76 for each contact member 7, serves to connect each ofy said contact members with the corresponding wire leading to the electric of any ordinary,

ty e.

he switch and switch actuating plunger and spring and switch mechanism herein described and shown in the drawings are particularly well adapted to be used in connection with, and to form a part of a refrigerating plant or apparatus.

In Fig. 2 is shown diagrammatically and in a much smaller scale than the switch and switch actuating plunger, a `household rerigerating system, comprising a condenser having a cooling coil 82 .therein surroundedby a condensing chamber or space adapted to contain ammonia gas and liquid ammonia. or similar refrigerating agent in process of being condensed and cooled. The receiving end of said coil is connected with the water supply pipe 78 and the discharge end communicates with the pipe 83 leading to the interior or watercontaming space-of a water jacket 83', which surrounds the compression or piston chamber of a compressor 84. A- pipe 85 leadsfrom said water-containing a .suitable source of electric electric motor to be' metallic brackets 11 which are Y motor77, whichmay be space or water-jacket of the compressor and 'communicates with the inlet passage 52 and 'sion coil. Y

into and held in contact with the spring fingers of contact members 7, or in circuit closing and operative position. The water 1s thus adapted to pass first through the pipes pressure may be maintained in chamber 51,

or the passage may be of such area that when open the desired pressure will be produced. The compressor 84 has a driving wheel or belt pulley 89 iixed"l to the piston-driving crank shaft 90 provided with a driving belt 91 mounted on saidv driving pulley and adapted to be operatively connected with and driven by the electric motor 77, the stopping and starting of said motor being controlled by the switch and switch actuating mechanism 4as herein described. The condenser 81 has la supply pipe 87 which communicates with the condensing chamber or ammonia-containing space which surrounds the water-contaimng cooling coil 82 of the condenser; and the receiving end of said pipe is adapted to communicate with the outlet of the compression or piston chamber of the compressor. An outlet pipe 88 leads from said condensing chamber or ammonia-containing space of the condenser 81 and is adapted to communicate with an expansion coil or coils of the refrigerating system, and the pressure-duid-containing space of an automatic pressure-controlled expansion valvenot shown-and which expansion coil and valve may be of any desired or ordinary and well known form. A return pipe 88 forms the inlet to the compression chamber and isadapted to be connected with the discharge end of the expan- A two-way cock 79, which maybe of any desired ordinary or well known construction, and having an operating handle or lever 80, is mounted inposition to open or close the water supply passage leading through the pipe 78, the condenser,` the compressor and the pipe 85 to the chamber` '51. Water under pressure may thus be admitted to said chamber 51, and in contact with the' diaphragm, by moving the lever in one direction, to open the inlet passage through pipe 78. To shut o the water and discontinue or remove Vthe iuid pressure upon .the diaphragm and plunger, the lever is moved inthe opposite direction, 'or into position to close the inlet passage.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that any break in the wa.-

ing the cock 79, or by some accidental or un-v foreseen cause, will result in the removal or absence of pressure in the chamber 51 against the diaphragm 54 or the head of the p unger 46. rlhe plunger 46 will, as a result, be automatically operated by the spring 58, so as to open the switch and break'the electric circuit, thereby causing the motor and mechanism driven thereby to stop. The removal ot fluid pressure from the chamber 51 and diaphragm 54 will cause the bell crank lever 34, spring 31, lever 26 and Y plunger 22, and the metallic switch members 9, to be moved from the position in which said parts are Shown in full lines in Fig. 1,"`or' circuit closing position, to the position in which said membersare shown in broken linesin said gure or circuit-breakmgor open position. By turning the cock 79 Vto open position, so as to admit water, or liquid, to chamber 51, under suiiicient pressure to operate the plunger 46 against the pressure of the spring 58, the spring 31 and the lever. and plunger mechanism operated` by, or operatively connected with, said spring, and also the metallic switch members 9, will be actuated or moved from open to circuit closing position, in which position said parts are shown in full lines in Fig. l.

ln the operations of throwing the switch from circuit closing position to open or circuit-breaking position, and from circuitbreaking or open position, to circuit closing or operative position it is very important thatmeans be provided for preventing the possibility of the switch members 9 stopping intermediate'their completelyopen' or the completely closed position, thereby Vp re'- venting the possibility of making an 1mc' perfectv or incomplete contact orelectrical connection between the switch members 9 and the contacts 7. The plunger 22 is therefore provided with a longitudinal elongated slot 23 in sliding engagement withV which the pin 24 is mounted, as already described, and the arms 42 of the orkedlink 40 are provided with the elongated slots 43,

in sliding engagement with which the corresponding pins 44 are mounted. (See Fig.

l.) The desired lost. motion or independ-A ent Amovement of the plunger 22, with respect to the switch members 9 and of the bell crank 34 and link 40 with respect to the plunger 22 and forked lever 26, is thus provided; and the desired relatively eX- tended, or independent longitudinal movement of the plunger 22 in either. direction with lrespect to the switch members 9, and with respect to the upwardly extending arm 35 of the bell crank 34 and thus obtained.

' Water is parts constructed, arranged and operate as above described, the plunger 46 and diaphragm 54 are only required to make a very short movement, either upward or downward, as compared with the more extended movement of the plunger 22, in order to enable theA spring 31 to complete the movement 22 in either direction, said movement being begun and partly completed by the positive action of'thecplunger 4 6 and the upwardly extending arm 35 of the bell crank 'lever 34 and its forked link 40.

The operation of the plunger `4,6 and the bell crank 34 and of the link 40 from the position in which said parts are shownin full lines in Fig. 1 to the open or circuit breaking position `iii which they are shown in broken lines in said figure, or in the opposite direction from circuit breaking to -Circuit closing position, will bring the pin 33 or point of connection between the sprin 31, lever 26 and plunger 22 in the like or corresponding direction through and slightly beyond the transverse plane in which the axial center of the lever 26 and the centers of the pivot pins 29 and pin 32 are located, so that the completion or continuation of the movement of the plunger 22 and switch members 9 in the proper direction 'will he produced by the action ofthe spring 31.

By the construction and arrangement of parts as above described, so that the plunger casing and chamber 51 are connected with the outlet passage from the compressor water-jacket insteadof the water supply pipe leading to the refrigerating syst-em, the `dia phragm 54 and switch actuating plunger 46, are adapted to be operated by the pressure of the cooling water of the refrigerating system after, instead of before, such water has passed through the water-containing passages and spaces of the refrigerating sys tem. Any stoppage, clogging or interruption of the 'low of With the adapted to the refrigerating apparatus will, therefore, at once ycause a reduction of pressure in chamber land thus cause the switch to be automatically actuated so as to Aopen the electric circuit which operates the motor, thereby causing the motor andthe compressor driven thereby to stop. Such excessive and dangerously high pressure as would result from permitting the compressor to continue in operation after the stopping of the How of cooling water or liquid is thus prevented, and the danger of breaking of conduits and of the escape of ammonia gas is reduced to a minimum. The permitted to pass freely through chamber 51 to the discharge pipe 86 and the chamber 51 is kept'free from obstructions, and any obstructions in the waterof the plunger mechanism water through any of, the water-containing passages or spaces of containing passages of the refrigerating system, such as the compressor water-jacket, or

the water-containing-coil of the condenser are, by this arrangement, on tle receiving side of the chamber 51, and not on the dis charge would not cause, but might prevent the stopping of the motor.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a metallic contact member, a movable switch arm adapted :to lbe moved into and out of engagement witli'said metallic contact member, insulated-'su means forv supportin said metal 1c contact member and mova le switcharm, means for connecting said contact* member and movable switch arm with an 'electric circuit, a reciprocating switch-arm-operating plunger bar having slidably engaged slot Iand pivot4 pin connection with said movable g switch arm, and adapted to have a limited movement independently of the vlatter, spring operatively connected with said switch-arm-operating plungerY bar and.' adapted to actuate the same and thereby the movable switch arm in opposite directions alternately, a main actuating lever operatively connected with and adapted to have a. limited movement .independently of said spring-actuated switch-arm-operatingplunl"Y ger bar, and acting to move the-'latter'inop'- posite directions alternately against the ten-V sion of the spring mechanism, and a pistou operatively connected with said iever and acting to operate-the same in opposite directions alternately.

In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a metallic contact member, a pivoted metallic switch arm adapted to be moved into and out of contact with said contact member, insulated supporting means for supporting said metallic contact inember and pivoted metallic switch arm, means for connecting said contact member and ivoted switch arm with an electric circuit, a reciprocating switch-arm-operating plunger bar having slidably en aged slot and pivot pin connection with sai movable switch arm and adapted to have limited independent movement with respect to the latter, an actuating lever mounted on a suitable support and adapted to be operatively connected with said reciprocating switch-arm-operating plunger bar for operatin the latter in opposite directions alternate y, connecting porting link and lever mechanism interposed be- 1 with the reciprocating switch-arm-operating 130 engagement with said contact member and mechanism and adapted to operate the same and thereby the movable switch arm in opposite directions alternately, and means for automatically actuating said lever against the tension of said spring mechanism 1n op.

posite directions alternately. A

3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a'metallic contact inembcr, a pivoted metallic switch member adapted to be moved into and out of contact with Y said contact member, insulating means 1n pivoted switch mem-ber, means. for connecting said contact member and pivoted switch member with opposite terminals of an elec v .trie circuit, a; reciprocatin .member connected with said pivoted svvitc Amember, a lever 4`pivotally mounted and pinvotally connected `with said reciprocating member, a spring having Vone end connected .with a suitable stationary support and havingits opposite end connected with one ci said pivotally connected members and adapted to actuate i the same in opposite directions successively,

. support,

a bell crank ipivotally mounted in a suitable connecting means for operatively connecting said 'bell crank with one of said spring-actuated mechanism, and means for pivotally connected members, said connecting means being constructed and arranged in position to permit a limited movement of the bell-crank lever independently of said i Y operating said bellcrank in opposite 'directions successively against the tension of' said spring.

4f. ln a 'mechanism of the class described, the combination of a metallic contact memt bei', a pivoted metallic switch 'member adapted to be moved into and out of contact with .said contact member, insulating means in swinging end portion adapted tobe connected with said slottedreciprocating member, pins extending through opposite end portions of said" slotted reciprocating member and connected with said lever and said piv` oted -switch member. respectively, one of said -pins being mounted in position to extend through and in slidingengagementwith said Velongated slot, a tension spring having one end connected with saidpivoted lever and havingits opposite end secured to a suitable stationarysupport, said spring being adapted to actuate said lever in opposite directions successively, a link pivdtally connected vWith said pivoted lever and provided With a pivot-engaging elongated slot acting to permit a limited movement of said link independently of said 'spring actuated lever, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted ina suitable support, means for pivotally connecting one arm of said bell crank lever with said link, and means for operating said spring- -actuated mechanism in opposite 'directions successively against the tension of said spring. v y

BENJAMN S. MCGLELLAN.

Witnesses: Y f i l r IRWIN Gnomiz,

Y l'nnnm L, Fisnn. y 

